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Location: Usually just in front of the ear, near the cartilage crease.
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Size: Often very small, barely visible, and sometimes hidden under hair.
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Appearance: Looks like a tiny dent, pit, or small dimple.
How Does It Form?
Preauricular sinuses are congenital, meaning they form while a baby is developing in the womb. During fetal development, the ear forms from several small tissue folds called the first and second pharyngeal arches.
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If these tissue folds don’t fully fuse, a small pit can be left behind.
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This explains why the hole is present at birth and often runs in families.
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Genetics play a role, with some people inheriting a predisposition for these ear pits.